Universal splint



Feb. 12, 1946. A B. AUERHAAN g 2,394,653

UNIVERSAL SPLINT' Filed April 12, 1945 3 shets-sheet ATTOR/YE Y Feb. 12, 1946. -A, B. AUERHAAN UNIVERSAL SPLINT Filed April 12, 1943 Feb. l2 1946. A. B.) AUERHAAN 3 5 UNIVERSAL SPLINT Filed April 12, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 TE-EU- INVENTOR.

Efica/B. fine/kadia BY cm & e ArroR/y-Y Patented Feb. 12, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT ?i I p p p '23945653 OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a splint for mending broken bones in arms and legs.

More specifically, the invention proposes the Construction of a splint for mending broken bones in arms and legs characterized by a pair of extendable arms for extension along the sides of the limb having the broken bone to retain the arm extended as Will be hereinafter described.

Another object of the invention proposes providing one of the ends of the side arms with an arcuate padded member adapted to be engaged upon the limb on one side of the break and to provide the other ends of the side arms with a threadedly rctatively supported screw adapted to be connected with bandages 'mounted on the limb on the other side of the break in a manner to pull the arm when the screw is turned to align the broken bone sections.

Still further it is proposed to provide the inner end of the screw with a hook over which the bandages are adapted to be engaged for connecting the bandages with the screw.

A still further object of the invention proposes mounting the hook rotatively upon the inner end of the screw in a manner to permit the screw to be freely turned while the hook is held against turning by its engagement with the bandages.

Still another object of this invention proposes mounting the ends of the padded member adjustably upon the ends of the extendable side arms in a manner to permit them to be extended and retracted with relation to the ends of .the

side arms to control the spacing of the ends of the side arms to project along the side of limbs having different diameters.

It is still further an object of this invention to construct a splint for mending broken bones in arms and legs which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereo, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features oi the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings Iorming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view oi a splint for mending broken bones in arms and legs constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. e

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fi 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the lin 5--5 of Fig. 2. ,i 4. A-

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional View on the line 5-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged sectional View on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailed View of a portion of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a splint constructed in accordance with 'a modification of this invention.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detailed view looking in the direction of the line l l-H of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on the line I'Z-- 2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a perspective View of a portion of the pivot pin per se.

Fig. 14 is a perspective View of one end of the arcuate padded member.

Fig. 15 is another View similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a splint ccnstructed in accordance but with a still further modification of this invention.

Fig. 16 is a perspective View of a splint constructed in accordance with another form of th invention.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional View taken on the line l'i--l'l of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary eniarged sectional View taken on the line !8-!8 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of one of the brackets shown in Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of one of the felt washers shown in Fig. 18.

The splint for mending broken bones in arms and legs, according to this invention, includes a pair of extendable side arms o. Each of these arms o consists of a tubular section I' and a solid rod |2 slidably extended into one end of the tubular section H. Means is provided upon each of the tubular sections ll for holding the rods !2 in various extended positions. This means is characterized by a leaf spring !3 upon each of the tubular sections l I. Each leaf spring 13 has one of its ends fixedly attached to its respective tubular member H by means of rivet The free ends of the leaf springs !3 are formed with projections |5 which extend to the interior of the tubular sections through openings IB formed in the sides thereof. These projections !5 are engageable with complementar recesses n formed in the rods !2 to lock the rods against movement relative to the tubular sections H. Rings !8 are slidably mounted on the tubular members andare engageable about the, intermediate portions of the springs [3 to hold the springs from accidentally flexng and withdrawing the projections [6 from the recessesll.

An arcuate padded member 19 is mounted-be the arms 10, so that portions of the spring steel' 20 and the ends of the tubular section ll will be overlapped. Rivets 2l pass through the over-' lapped portions of the spring steel 20 'andthe tubular sections ll for pivotally conncting the spring steel 20 with the tubular sections H. q

The piece of spring steel 20 intermediate ofits pivotally supported ends is provided with padding material 22 which is adapted to engage thelimb and prevent injury to the flesh thereof. Tapes 23 extend from the ends of the padding material and are adapted to be tied about the limb for maintaining the padded arcuate member I:)` in position upon the limb on one`side of its break.

`A bracket 24 is mounted between the other ends of the side arms ID. This bracket 24 is formed of a pair of oppositelyarced pieces of metal 25 which have their ends welded, brazed' or in any other manner Secured to the outer ends of the rods !2.

A block 26 is disposed and welded in position between the adjacent faces of the. pieces of metal 25. A screw 2 1 is threadedly engaged through the block 26 and its outer end bent into a handle 28 by which the screw 21 may be turned 'relative to the block 26.

The inner end of the screw- 21 carries a hook 29 which is adapted to be engaged with bandages mounted upon the limb on the side of the break opposed to the side engaged by the padded arcuate member l9; The hook 29 continues into a shank 30 having a knob 3l formed upon its end. This knob is located within a cap 32 threadedly mounted upon the free end of the screw. The inter-engaged knob 3| and cap 32 rotatively connect these partsso thatthe screw 27 may be turned while the hook 2-9isnbeing held by its 'engagement with the bandages. i A lock nu ts is: mounted upon the screw 21' and is adapted to be tightly engaged against the adjacent end 'of the block 2 6 for looking the screw21 iri-various turned adjusted positions `relative to the ;block 26.

The manner of using the splnt is as follows: t "The padded arcuate member l'9 is engaged about' the limb above the break and the `tapes aretied about the limb for holding the arcuate q member in position. With the` side arms ID ext tended along the sides of the broken limzb they are adjusted in length'so the hook 29 Will be disposed along the arm on the. side. .of 'the break opa posedgto the side engaged' bythe padded arcuate member. By meansof'band'ages the hook 29 is then connected to the limb. The :handle 28 then turned for moving the screw Z'l'outwards. relative to the block 25. This will pull on the hook and Stretch the broken limb and' aligrr the broken'sections of' the' bne. i i In Fig-s. 10 'to '1.4 a modificatien of the inven-.V

tionis disclosed in which the ends of'the irods l 12 are pivotally attached to the' free-ends ofthe arced metal members 25 forming the bracket z'a tubular sections I I of the side arms'lflz;

justment permits the ends of thesteel'meenbr,

The ends i of' 'the spring' x 20 to be extended and retractedwith relatiorrto the ends of the tubular sections 'H *te `ca-usethese' ends to be spread as the side arms pivot about the pins 34 to space the side arm to extend along the sides of limbs of difierent thicknesses.

To accomplish this the free ends of the spring steel member-areiformed 'with elongated slots 35. Each -slot 35 comprises a plurality of square openings 36 which are connected with each other by narrow slot portions 31. The rivets 2 l which pass through the overlapped portions of the spring steel members 29 and the ends of the tubular;sectionsl| each have an intermediate square pQrtion38 and a narrow round portion 39. Normal-ly', the square -portion 38 engages one of the squareopenings 36 for fixedly holding the spring steel member in a desired adjusted position. A split Washer 40 is mounted on the reduced narrow round portion 39 and acts between a portion of the tubular section I I and the ends of the spring steel member to urge the end of the spring steel member 20 toWards the square portion 38.

It will be understood that the ends of the springsteel member may be urged away from the square portions 38 against the action of thesplit washers This movement'will align the slots 35 with the narrow round portions 39 of the rivets 2 l and permit the ends of the spring steel member 20 to be extended or retracted relative to the tubular sections with the narrow round portions 39 of `the rivets passing through the narrow slot portions 31.

The ends of the rivets 2 I' rotatively engage the ends of the side arms lo and when the square openings 36 of the slots 35 engage the square portions 38 of the rivets ZI' the padded member l9-will still be able to pivot relative to the side arms H). However, means areprovided for locking the padded arcuate member !9 in various pivoted positions relative to the side arms s.

This latter means comprises a leaf spring 41 having one end pivotally mounted upon one head of the rivet 21". This pivotal mounting is ac- 'complished by a small rivet 42'. The free end of the leaf spring M carries a small pin 43 which may be extended through an opening 44' formed -in--the head of therivet 21".

The free end' of the sma-11 may be then engaged with' oneof a plurality' of small reeesses '45 formed inthe face of thetubular section I l adjacent the head of the The rivet 21' which carries the leaf spring 41-. spring- 4`| -may be man-ually fiexed tod-isengage the pin 43 from the opening M andthe spring :H may then be pivoted' to the inoperative posi-- tion illustrated by the dot and dashlines 41' in Fig. 12. In this' latterposition the paddedmember` Bir-is free to pivot relative tothe side arms l li.

In using the splint as shown in this form` of are moved inwardsv relative to the ends of. the

side arms; the side v armswill be pivoted: inwards i about the pins 34'Tand' be drawn' Closer together.

'-It is thus possible to adjust the: spacing; of .the

sidearmslo to meetithe requirements of limbsz of di-fif'erent diametersi In other respectsthis form of the: inventionz is: similar to the previous form candilikereference numerals identity like .parts in. eacho-f the ;several views.

In the form of-the invention showninll'ig 15, the spring steel member 20 of the paddedaeuate. member'19 hasits ends pivotally attached: to rods 50. These rods 50 are then slidablyrextended;

On the otherif'the ends of thespring steelmem'ber 29' into the ends of the tubular sections I l of the side arms lo'. Thumb screws are threadedly engaged through the walls of the tubular section Il of the side arms ID' and abut the rods 53 for holding the rods in various adjusted extended positions relative to the tubular sections il.

The solid rods' I2 are slidably extended into the other ends of the tubular sections H of the' side arms ID' and are held in various adjusted fixed positions by means of thumb screws 52 which threadedly eng age through the walls of the opposite ends of the tubular sections H.

In other respects this form of the invention is also similar to the previous forms and like reference numerals identify like parts in each of the several views.

In Figs. 16 to 20 another modified form of the invention is disclosed. In this form the splint includes a pair of extendable side arms I il. Each of these arms consists of a tubular section i i and a solid rod !2 slidably eXtended into one end of the tubular section. A ring 55 is fixedly mounted on the inner end of each tubular section i! and supports a leaf spring 55 which is provided with a bolt projection 51 cooperative with any one of a plurality of niches 58 formed along' the rod !2. A ring 59 is slidably mounted on the end of each tube Il and is restrained from falling ofi by a small'flange 60. When this ring 59 is in its inoperative position, the one illustrated by the dot and dash lines 59', the leaf spring 55 is free to flex, as indicated by the dot and dash lines 56', and the projection 51 is then free from the recess 53. This permits the tubular section I and the rod !2 to be relatively adjusted.

An arcuate padded member [9 is mounted between the ends of the side arms e and is constructed from an arcuate core of spring steel Bl supporting a plurality of closely spaced felt washers 62 which are covered by a strip of cloth material 63. Brackets 64 are ,permanently attached upon the ends of the steel core 6! and serve to hold the Washers 62 in position. The brackets 64 have reduced outer ends 65 which are pivotally connected by pintles 68 with brackets 61 mounted on the outer ends of the tubular' section l l. Cloth straps 23 are attached to the cloth covering material 63 in the vicinity of the brackets 64.

The outer ends of the rods |2 are formed with threads 68 which threadedly engage into a bracket 69. A block 26 is disposed in between the sides of the bracket 24 and is welded fixedly in position; A screw 21 threadedly engages through the block 26. This screw is provided with a double handle 28' by which it may be turned. The inner end of the screw 21 carries a hook 29 which has a shank 30 rotatively mounted upon the end of a cap 32 which is mounted on the end of the screw 21. A lock nut 33 threadedly engages the screw 21 and abuts the block 26.

The manner of using this splint is substantially identical to the forms previously described.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my inventibn, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. g

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A splint for mending broken bons in arms and legs, comprising a pair of extendable side arms, an arcuate padded member mounted between one of the ends of said side arms and adapted to engage partially above a limb, a bracket mounted between the other ends of said side arms, and a screw threadedly extended through said bracket and adapted to be connected with bandages on said limb, said arcuate padded member comprising a piece of spring steel having its ends piviotally attached to the ends of said side arms, and padding material wound upon said piece of spring steel intermediate of its pivotally mounted ends, said side arms having their ends pivotally attached to said bracket, and means for extendably and retractably connecting the ends of said piece of spring steel with the ends of said side arms to control the spacing of said side arms as the ends of said piece of spring. steel are adjusted in and out, comprising elongated slots formed in the ends of said spring steel member and each comprising a plurality of square openings connected together by narrow slot portions, rivets pivotally supporting the ends of said piece of spring steel, each'rivet comprising a square portion normally engaging one of said square openings and a narrow round portion adapted to be passed through said narrow slot portions for selectively aligning said square portion with desired square openings, and means urging the ends of said piece of spring steel into positions in which one of said square openings will be engaged with each of said square portions.

2. A splint for mending broken bones in arms and legs, comprising a pair of extendable side arms, an arcuate padded member mounted between one of the ends of said side arms and adapted to engage partially above a limb, a bracket mounted between the other ends of said side arms, and a screw threadedly extended through said bracket and adapted to be connected with bandages on said limb, said arcuate padded member comprising a piece of spring steel having its ends pivotally attached to the ends of said side arms, and padding material wound upon said piece of spring steel intermediate of its pivotally mounted ends, said side arms having their ends pivotally attached to said bracket, and means for extendably and retractably connecting the ends of said piece of spring steel with the ends of said side arms to control the spacing of said side arms as the ends of said piece of spring steel are adjusted in and out, comprising elongated slots formed in the ends of said spring steel member and each comprising a plurality of square openings connected together by narrow slot portions, rivets pivotally supporting the ends of said. piece of spring steel, each rivet comprising a square portion normally engaging one of said square openings and a narrow round portion adapted to be passed through said narrow slot portions for selectively aligning said square portion with desired square openings, and means urging the ends of said piece of spring steel into positions in which one of said square openings will be engaged with each of said square portions, and means for locking said rivets against turning to hold said padded member against pivoting when certain of said square openings are engaged with said square portions.

ALFRED B. AUERHAAN. 

